Chapter 271: Black Lightning and Tears
"Whoa...!!"
A mixture of cheers and gasps rippled through the Domus Flau stands like a tide.
Although seven years had eroded the public memory of Fairy Tail's dominance, causing many to dismiss them as a washed-up guild, there were still veterans in the crowd—old fans and seasoned mages—who remembered the days when the name "Mirajane" was synonymous with terror.
So, while the cheers weren't deafeningly enthusiastic compared to Sabertooth's reception, they carried a weight of genuine respect and awe.
The loudest voices, of course, came from the Fairy Tail supporters section.
"Mira-nee! Mira-nee! You're the best!"
"Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail! Go, go, go!"
"Hahaha! Did you see that? Did you see that power?!" Makarov Dreyar was practically dancing on the railing, tears of pride streaming down his face. "That is the Demon of Fairy Tail! That is my daughter!"
Down in the Team B viewing area, the returning members of Tenrou Island were equally stunned.
"So... so powerful!"
Gajeel Redfox stared at the arena floor, where the smoke was still clearing. He had originally thought Mirajane was just a retired S-Class mage turned waitress—a kind soul who poured drinks and smiled. But the ferocity she had just displayed... it sent a chill down his iron spine.
"Is Miss Mira really that strong?" Juvia Lockser clutched her hands to her chest, her eyes wide. "Her magic power... it felt suffocating."
Laxus Dreyar, standing with his arms crossed and a rare smirk on his face, glanced at them. "Now you know, right? The women in this guild are not to be trifled with. She was a monster before she retired, and she's a monster now."
"That's awesome! Nee-chan!! You're a real Man!"
Elfman was moved to tears, sobbing openly. For years, guilt had eaten him alive—the belief that his mistake had stripped his sister of her magic. Seeing her stand tall in the arena, wreathed in dark energy, restored a piece of his soul.
Moments later, Mirajane returned to the resting area. She had already deactivated her Satan Soul, returning to her usual gentle appearance in a flowing dress.
"Well done, Mira."
"Oh my!" Mirajane cupped her cheeks, blushing slightly as she noticed everyone staring. "It's been so long since I've used magic in front of so many people. It's quite embarrassing to be so violent."
"…"
The entire team—Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Ren—couldn't help but inwardly scoff at her modesty.
Embarrassing? Ren thought with a wry smile. When she was attacking just now, that fierce intensity, that sadistic gleam in her eyes as she tore her opponent apart... she enjoyed every second of it.
"Gulp! Is... is that really the same Mira?" Lucy, standing with Team A, involuntarily gulped. "She's too strong! And scary!"
She had heard stories that Mirajane used to be an S-Class Mage rivaling Erza, but hearing it and seeing "The Demon" in flesh were two very different experiences.
Gray smiled, leaning back. "Mira used to be evenly matched with Erza, constantly fighting and destroying things. That earned her the title 'The Demon.' She's only nice because she retired."
"Demon?!" Lucy shivered. "That title fits way too well."
Natsu, however, looked excited, flames licking at his lips. "Now I can have a showdown with Mira! I've been wanting to fight her seriously for years!"
Erza's eyes held a nostalgic warmth as she nodded. "Yes. Seeing her fight truly brings back memories of the old days."
Ren walked over and gave Mirajane a thumbs up. "You were captivating out there. That form truly has a unique charm."
He whispered the last part so only she could hear, causing Mirajane's smile to widen just a fraction. I'll have to properly savor the taste of the demoness later, he mused.
[Next up is the second battle of the day!]
The announcer's voice boomed through the lacrima screens.
[From Blue Pegasus, the Tanned Charmer, Ren Akatsuki! Versus Mermaid Heel's Web Mistress, Araña Webb!]
The crowd cheered as the two combatants entered the sandy arena.
Ren Akatsuki, the tanned member of the Trimens, adjusted his suit cuffs, looking serious. Opposite him stood Araña, a woman in a skintight spider-themed outfit.
"Begin!"
The two engaged instantly.
"Spider Silk!" Araña shot thick, sticky webs from her wrists.
"Air Slicer!" Ren Akatsuki countered, waving his hands to create blades of pressurized wind.
The two fought back and forth, neither gaining a decisive upper hand immediately.
"It seems you've improved a lot compared to last year," the MC Ren observed from the balcony, a faint smile on his face.
He remembered the Ren Akatsuki from seven years ago—a bit of a joke character who got wiped out by the Oración Seis alongside the rest of the Allied Forces. But in these past seven years, while the Tenrou group was frozen, Ren Akatsuki hadn't just been playing around. He had diligently trained to erase the shame of his weakness.
"Is it okay for a Pegasus man to attack a girl, Ren-chan?" Araña teased, firing another web.
"Ren! What are you doing?! Don't let her seduce you! Quickly defeat that woman!"
Suddenly, a shrill voice cut through the arena noise.
In the Lamia Scale section, Sherry Blendy was shouting loudly, waving her arms.
"Don't cheer for the opposing team, you fool!"
Guild Master Ooba Babasaama barked discontentedly at Sherry. "We are rivals!"
Toby Horhorta, standing next to them, defended her. "It's fine, isn't it, Granny? Isn't he Sherry's fiancé? Cheering for him is nothing! It's love!"
"Shut up! Go spin around!"
Ooba snapped her fingers.
"Aye!" Toby immediately started spinning in circles like a top, getting dizzy. "Woah, world is spinning!"
Down in the arena, Ren Akatsuki heard Sherry's voice. His face turned red.
"There are weaknesses everywhere, Ren-chan!"
Araña seized his moment of distraction. She launched a massive net of magic webs.
"Whoa!"
Ren Akatsuki was hit, the sticky threads binding his arms. He stumbled but managed to roll away just before Araña could land a kick.
"Damn it... Sherry..." Ren Akatsuki gritted his teeth, dodging another web. "I... I'm not doing this because of you! You always cling to me, shouting my name, making me flustered! But... but if you're not by my side, I can't go all out!"
"He's being a massive tsundere!" Lucy shouted from the stands.
Everyone was somewhat dumbfounded to see this public display of awkward romance.
"But since you're watching me..." Ren Akatsuki's eyes narrowed, his magic power flaring up. The wind around him began to swirl violently, cutting the webs binding him. "I can't let you see me make a fool of myself!"
He clapped his hands together.
"Air Magic: Aerial Phantasm!"
Ren released a massive, vibrating sphere of compressed air that distorted the space around it. It hit Araña with the force of a truck.
"Waaahhhhh!"
Araña screamed as she was blasted off her feet, tumbling across the arena and crashing into the wall, unconscious.
[Winner: Blue Pegasus, Ren Akatsuki!]
"YEAAAH!"
Loud cheers erupted from the stands. Blue Pegasus's popularity was quite high; not only were they powerful, but the guild was full of handsome men, which appealed to the female demographic.
"When did those two get together?" Lucy asked, surprised by the relationship between Lamia Scale's Sherry and Blue Pegasus's Ren.
"Sure enough, this guy has gotten so much stronger in seven years," Natsu commented, looking interested. "His wind magic is sharp."
"I wonder if that Ichiya guy also got stronger? Hehe!" Natsu chuckled.
Erza turned to him, her expression serious. "Natsu, do not underestimate them. Ichiya has been strong from the beginning. Although his personality is... eccentric, and his face is unpleasant, he is, without a doubt, Blue Pegasus's strongest Mage. His perfumes are potent combat tools."
"What?!"
Natsu, Gray, and Lucy were dumbfounded. That short, stout, sniffing weirdo was the Ace?
Ren (MC) nodded in agreement. "Erza is right. In terms of raw magic power output, Ichiya is close to a 7-Star level. Don't let his looks deceive you."
[Next, we focus on today's third battle!]
The gong sounded again, signaling the next match.
[From the wild hounds, Quatro Cerberus's War Cry! Versus Sabertooth's Black Lightning, Orga Nanagear!]
"It's him!"
"It's Orga!"
"The Black Lightning of Sabertooth!"
The cheers from the stands became incredibly enthusiastic, deafening even, as a hulking man with long green hair and tribal tattoos walked into the arena. Orga Nanagear. He exuded an aura of pure, unadulterated power.
[Hear those resounding cheers!! He is so popular! Sabertooth is truly the Kings of Fiore!]
"This popularity... is really high," Natsu muttered, feeling a bit annoyed. "They love Sabertooth."
Ren leaned against the wall, eyes narrowing. "Well! After all, they are currently the strongest Mage Guild in Fiore. People love a winner."
On the other side, a strange man dressed in a dog-like outfit walked out.
"You can do it!! War Cry!"
"Keep your Soul—Wild!"
Quatro Cerberus's teammates were cheering him on enthusiastically.
In the Sabertooth balcony, Sting Eucliffe looked down and teased. "Oh! It's War Cry! I remember his magic... it's kinda interesting."
Rogue Cheney remained silent, but Rufus Lore adjusted his hat. "It's interesting magic, but I already have something better in my memory. No need to memorize it."
[Today's third match, begin!]
Accompanied by the strike of a gong, the fight started.
Orga stood there, arms crossed, looking bored. He didn't even take a fighting stance.
War Cry, however, began his ritual.
"Ugh... Ugh..."
Tears began to flow from War Cry's eyes.
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh!"
Immediately after, he began to cry loudly, wailing like a banshee. Tears streamed down his face, glowing with magical energy.
[This is War Cry's Spirit Magic: Tear Magic!]
"Tear Magic?!"
"What kind of magic is that?!"
"He's crying! Is he scared?"
Many people who didn't understand were dumbfounded.
"The more tears flow, the str... stronger I become!" War Cry shouted through his sobs, his magic power rising visibly with every tear. "My sorrow is my power! Feel the sadness!!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Orga spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and rumbling.
He raised one hand casually. Black electricity crackled around his fingers—dark, heavy, and ominous.
"Then cry in hell."
"Boom—!"
There was no build-up. No chant. Just a sudden, catastrophic release of energy.
A massive bolt of black lightning erupted from Orga's hand. It wasn't like normal lightning; it was thicker, darker, behaving more like a solid beam of destruction than electricity.
It struck War Cry before he could finish his sentence.
KRA-KOOM!
The arena shook violently. Dust and debris were blasted into the air. When the smoke cleared, War Cry was lying on the ground, scorched and unconscious. The ground around him was melted into glass.
One shot.
[Battle over!! Winner: Orga Nanagear!!!]